History
Here are a few historical items I’ve come across that piqued my interest (but not enough to devote a whole post). In the wake of “tree gate” and all the Roger Williams talk, wouldn’t you know a new book is out about him? Read an excerpt, an interview with the author and a review. This…
Yes, there are many other issues in the world to be discussed, but there has been so much rote recitation of bad history in the coverage of the Rhode Island statehouse “holiday” tree, it is worth repeating that views never held by Roger Williams routinely are attributed to him. The latest, perhaps most direct, example…
With the 70th Anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, it feels like the passing of an age is upon us. Fewer and fewer of those alive during those times–particularly those who fought–are still alive today. It seems the emotional resonance that past remembrances of the “day that will live in infamy” began to dampen…
Commenting on the image cut by “union protesters” (that is, protesting union members), Alice Losasso of West Warwick quotes Scottish historian Alexander Tytler as follows: “The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:…
In the Valley Breeze today, I was happy to read that the Lincoln Middle and High Schools will be teaching the events of September 11, 2001 to the students. The part that disappointed me a bit was that they will be talking about it with the students, for the first time. “[LHS Principal Kevin] McNamara…
Marc and Matt Allen continued the conversation about binding arbitration on last night’s Matt Allen Show and went on to talk a bit about Michelle Bachmann. Stream by clicking here, or download it.
Apparently we’re at the point in Campaign 2012 where we play the game of dissecting political statements for “gotcha moments.” The pols have to be ready for the questions, so they should work to make sure they mitigate damage by reading up beforehand. That being said, of all the things to talk to a Presidential…
On behalf of no recognized or legitimate authority whatsoever (i.e. staying true to my blogging roots), I invite United States Congresswoman and possible long-shot Presidential Candidate Michele Bachmann to round out her knowledge of New England history by paying a visit to my neighborhood, the Edgewood and Pawtuxet sections of Cranston and Warwick, Rhode Island,…
The Thomas B. Fordham Institute has studied various State-level U.S. History Standards and come up with a report (PDF). For the most part, they didn’t like what they found with a “majority of states’ standards are mediocre-to-awful.” And, surprise, of all the states, Rhode Island was the only state to receive an N/A (Incomplete). Why?…
A Slave No More: Two Men Who Escaped to Freedom, Including Their Own Narratives of Emancipation by David W. Blight. A Slave No More is many books in one. The heart and soul of the work are the never-before-published emancipation narratives written by Wallace Turnage and John Washington. Blight provides historical context by matching their…